Varanasi: A notorious gangster, Rohit alias Sunny Singh, with a reward of Rs. 50000 on his head was gunned down by the Special task Force (STF) in a fierce encounter inside the Government Women's Hospital compound in Kabirchaura locality under Kotwali police station in Varanasi yesterday night.

"Rohit is killed during an exchange of fire between the Varanasi field unit cops of STF. One constable Alok Rai also suffered bullet injuries in this incident. He has been admitted to a private hospital where his condition is said to be stable," Sujit Pandey, IG STF said.

The STF have also recovered two pistols and a motorcycle from the incident site. Pandey also said that Rohit had recently murdered a man in Sigra last week after which he robbed Rs 27 lakhs from a business firm in Jagatganj area of Varanasi.

Rohit had kept more than 24 businessmen of Varanasi and adjoining districts of east UP on his target for extorting money. Rohit was wanted in more than 28 criminal cases including murder and robbery. In November 2014, after coming out of jail, he reorganised his gang and started committing crime in the region.

Rohit had issued threat calls to same businessmen which enabled the STF to locate him near hospital, where he and his gang members used to gather before raiding any place for robbery or murder, said the STF officials. Rohit was waiting for his accomplices when the STF personnel reached there. On seeing it, Rohit moved his motorbike inside the hospital and opened fire on cops. It led to exchange of fire there in which Rohit was eliminated.

The indiscriminate firing started in this busy area around 8.30 pm when Kabirchaura road was over crowded while shops mainly of medicines were also opened. The sound of firing led to panic in the area. People started running helter skelter. Situation normalized when it became clear that it was a police encounter and not a terrorist attack.